Guildford Runner Nicky’s Year of fundraising For Shooting Star Children’s Hospices

Published on: 8 Oct, 2019
Updated on: 10 Oct, 2019

Marking halfway through a year of fantastic fundraising, Nicky Ludlow from Guildford, will be taking on the Royal Parks Half Marathon this Sunday, October 13, in aid of local children’s hospice charity, Shooting Star Children’s Hospices, who support her son George.

This half marathon is just one in a long line of challenges Nicky has taken on this year with her friend Julie, with the hope to have run an astounding 118,000 metres by the end of the fundraising year.

Nicky Ludlow and her fiend Julie at the Weybridge 10k.

Nicky said: “We decided to do a year of fundraising in aid of Shooting Star Children’s Hospice. We started George’s Dragons fundraising on St George’s Day.”

Up until the age of seven her son George was living like any other healthy child, until one morning in 2010 when Nicky and dad Phil found their son lying in bed awake, but unable to move or talk.

Now aged 17, George’s condition still remains undiagnosed, with no prognosis, nine years on from his first seizure.

The family have been supported by Shooting Star Children’s Hospices at its Guildford hospice, Christopher’s, for eight years with services including respite, Hospice at Home, therapies and special experiences for all the family to enjoy and create memories.

The Ludlow Family: George, dad Phil, mum Nicky and sister Mia.

Nicky explained: “We know that any seizure could take him from us and he is reliant on his medication to manage his condition, not treat it.

“We want to thank an amazing charity who has kept us going in the most difficult of times. Shooting Star Children’s Hospices has provided respite for George and support for all of the family, keeping us calm and as sane as possible throughout the years. So we have decided to run a year of fundraising all in aid of them.”

Since March, Nicky and her friend and running partner Julie have completed the Vitality 10K, Weybridge 10K, London 10K and most recently Run Disney – a weekend of runs covering 36km through the parks of Disneyland, Paris.

Julie and Nicky at Run Disney.

Unfortunately Julie won’t be able to join Nicky for London’s leafiest half marathon after hurting her ankle at Run Disney.

Nicky said: “This will be the hardest one, as I’m doing it on my own. However, my mum will be coming up and joining the ‘Team Shooting Star’ cheer point to cheer me along.”

And next year they will be facing the big one – the London Marathon 2020.

“It seems very timely as it’ll be exactly 10 years since I did the last London Marathon, which was around the time George started to become ill, so it will mean a lot to me to have that as my final challenge of our fantastic fundraising year,” said Nicky.

To support all the running, the family, along with friends, have been holding events including a recent quiz night which raised £2,500 alone – taking their total to more than £8,000 raised so far.

Find out more about George’s Dragons events and George’s story at www.georgesdragons.org and Shooting Star Children’s Hospices at www.shootingstar.org.uk

If you are interested in taking part in next year’s Royal Parks Half Marathon, or another challenge for Shooting Star Children’s Hospices visit www.shootingstar.org.uk/get-involved/events/